Curtis Suda wrote on 10/30/09 7:34 AM

This post reminds me of over-ambitious entrepreneurs that I saw once on a reality television show called Shark Tank. In it, people bring in their great ideas that they often invest tens of thousands of dollars to make their dreams a reality. However, all-too-often I saw people who sacrificed their children's college savings, mortgaged their homes, and wiped out their entire inheritances to fund their ideas. Only to be denied by the panel of self-made moguls, these people defend their decisions to pursue their product or idea. They are the ones who so deeply need a third person narrative to illustrate to them that they put too much on the line. Some people are blinded by their own aspirations that are unrealistic or become impractical. Sadly, these people fail to recognize when to cut their losses and drag down their loved ones with them.

Sam Chapman wrote on 10/30/09 7:29 PM

You couldn't be more right about seeing your business through the eyes of others. Kinko's listened to coworkers and many of the best ideas came from the field, not from the home office. That was when working with Kinko's was a blast.

Chanel Ball wrote on 10/31/09 4:13 AM

I agree with your post. Having a third party look at your business can really help. Like you said, “once you reach the top of the mountain, you can never see the mountain.” I think that having an outsider come to a company and look at it for what it is can really help improve a company. There are some methods or environments that we may overlook at work and think it is fine because it is what they are used to seeing day in and day out. However, a new perspective may show how a business can grow or improve their infrastructure to better support what they are trying to accomplish. We talk about in class how Paul would walk into the front door of many Kinko’s stores to get the customer’s perspective. A business has to constantly think about their customers and targeted audience. Having someone come into a business and look at the infrastructure similar to having a customers’ perspective on a storefront can offer a business important information about how a company is running.

Kami Tolar wrote on 11/01/09 3:16 AM

I think that you made some very good points in this post. Having an outside party give you feedback about anything is extremely helpful and necessary. I have found that someone can share with me such a simple observation that I may not have seen because I am so involved in my project or task. It is clear that listening to the advice of a third-party can be humbling, and when has it been a bad thing to be humbled? I really like the analogy that you used about how once we get to the top of the mountain, we can no longer see the mountain. We need to be aware of not only how we see our business but also how others see our business.

Yun Ah Rha wrote on 11/01/09 9:32 PM

Having an outside perspective, especially in business is essential for a successful business. How will you ever sell anything if you don't know what people need and want? It's important to keep in mind the eyes of the costumer, because they are ultimately the ones who will make or break your business.

I also believe this is true about one's character and personality. It's good to talk to others and gain an insight on how they see you, not just what and who you think you are. Sometimes the kind of person you try to be may not resonate well on others. It's always a good idea to put yourself in the position of the observer. And with that, it's always a good idea to be an observer.

Lizzie Devcich wrote on 11/03/09 2:37 AM

As I hear about Kinko's employees who love coming to work, I am encouraged and reminded that good people and good companies can still exist. Everyone could see the greatness of Kinko's and it was very much attributed to the smiling faces behind the counter -- authentic happiness. PR has become extremely difficult to control with the explosion of social media advances. However, it is great to see that the most basic form of advertising, word of mouth, is still an honest way for anyone, an ophthalmologist, to see from someones point of view.

Lauren Wagner wrote on 11/03/09 3:03 AM

I think the use of third party feedback is something that helped make Kinko's so successful. In Copy This!, Paul talks about how Kinko's had an annual contest for the most innovative new idea for the company. It makes sense that front-line coworkers would have great ideas because they are the employees who are in constant interaction with customers. It's important for top executives to travel down to the base of the mountain every once in a while so that they can be reminded of the foundation that their company is built on.

Will Chandler wrote on 11/03/09 6:05 AM

A third person's perspective is definitely a great thing to have when owning a business. In fact, a third person opinion can be helpful with many things. For example, having a friend read my essay before I turn it in always turns out well. They help me see things that I don't see myself, and that is crucial in business. I agree with the article where it says business owners should walk into the store with the mindset and view of a customer. This third party view helps them realize what is missing and what should be changed.

Darcy Pollock wrote on 11/03/09 10:30 PM

I completely agree that an outsider's perspective is extremely valuable both in business and other aspects of life. It's like when you're looking for something that is right in front of your face, but just can't seem to find it and need someone else to point it out to you, even if it may be extremely obvious. I also feel like a third party can be extremely helpful in order to stay "on" rather than "in" your business.

Lindsey Murray wrote on 11/10/09 11:35 PM

I very much agree with this post. This ideology seems so simple to remember but I think we get to a point where we are so involved in a situation or event or even a business, that we forget to seek out the people who could help us the most. I love the mountain analogy mentioned. It very simply and eloquently articulates how being so deeply invested in a company can sometimes mean we have lost a bit of perspective. We have to know who we are serving (our customers) and the best way to do that is to ask them (the third party). I think this methodology relates equally well to life. It's often times best to go to a parent or sibling or friend to get valuable insight into a challenging situation!